Name:  Keith William Nolan                  Mar 21, 2005
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Comments:  

TO: USAF Veterans of Tan Son Nhut Airbase
FROM: Keith Nolan
SUBJECT: BOOK ABOUT THE BATTLE FOR SAIGON, MAY 1968

Gentlemen, as you know, I've been out of contact for a good many months. To explain the situation, let me offer a chronology of the manuscript to which you contributed your time and memories:

1.) I originally contracted with Presidio Press in the Summer of 2000 to write a historical account of the 9th Division's battle in southern Saigon during the so-called Mini-Tet Offensive of May 1968.

2.) The next four years were spent doing document research and conducting interviews with veterans like yourself. After the rough draft was circulated for comments and corrections, the final manuscript was finished and sent to Presidio Press in March 2004.

3.) By this time, Presidio Press had been absorbed by Random House. The new owners immediately fired the entire staff of Presidio Press and replaced them with their own people. The new staff then began going through Presidio Press's contracts, rendering a good number of them null and void. After the new staff reviewed my Mini-Tet manuscript, they decided to tear up my contract, too. The official reason I was fired was that the manuscript described too many controversial incidents, and fearing lawsuits, the new staff did not want to risk publishing it. More to the point, the new staff at Presidio Press (unlike the old staff, which had a genuine interest in preserving history) did not think there was much profit in publishing a book about an obscure battle from an unpopular and long-ago war.

4.) I was fired around May 2004. After going into a major funk (I was literally sick at heart that the story of your battle in Saigon was to remain untold, that all the work we had all put into the manuscript had gone to no good end), I got together with a literary agent and began looking for another publisher.

5.) After collecting numerous rejection letters, my agent finally found a publisher (MBI Publishing) who wanted the manuscript about the battle in Saigon. A contract has just been signed to that effect.

6.) MBI Publishing plans to release the book during the Spring or Summer of 2006.

In any event, I cannot tell you how relieved I am that the book will finally be coming out. Thanks again to all of you for your contributions. Now, please keep your fingers crossed that no more hiccups develop!

Best Wishes,

Keith

Name:  Bill Price                  Mar 18, 2005
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Comments:  Charles, do you have knowledge how to obtain copies of the orders which awarded the 377th the following?

AFOUA w/Combat "V" Device - 8 Apr 1966 to 31 May 1967
RVN Cross of Gallantry w/Palm - 8 Apr 1966 to 14 May 1967

Hope all is well with you and yours,

Bill Price
6250th/377th APSq
1965-1966

Name:  Tim Butz                  Mar 12, 2005
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Comments:  Charles:  My daughter is the Deputy Director for Lecture and Film Programs at the National Archives.  She wanted to do a progam to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the end of the war.  This is what she developed; members of the Tan Son Nhut Association, Vietnam Security Police Association, Vietnam Dog Handlers Association, and others in the D.C. area may find this program interesting.

Tim Butz
12th TRS
11/66-6/68

The Private History of Vietnam

Art Beltrone and Jan Scruggs will discuss two books in honor of those who served during the Vietnam War.  Beltrone, author of Vietnam Graffiti:  Messages from a Forgotten Troopship (Howell Press, 2004) tells the story of the General Nelson M. Walker, a 608 foot long troopship built in 1945 and used in three wars.  While preparing for a movie, Beltrone noticed hundreds of bunk canvases covered with inked messages left by its previous passengers.  The author explains, the collection of canvases on which the graffiti appeared shows what the people were thinking as they were on their way to a combat zone.  Jan Scruggs, Founder and President of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, discusses Offerings at the Wall: Artifacts from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Collection.  (Turner Publishing, 1995) The first offering to the Wall, a Purple Heart thrown into the monument's cement as it was being poured, presaged the medals, insignia, MIA bracelets, bullet casings, photographs, and flags from coffins that survivors have left at the Vietnam monument.  Each night the items are warehoused and cataloged.  Scruggs book portrays a sample of the 30,000 objects commended to the dead.

Thursday, May 26 at 7:00 p.m.

Alli M. Jessing
Dept. of Museum Operations
National Archives and Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20408

Name:  Kendra Embry                  Mar 03, 2005
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Comments:  I am the daughter of Jerry W. Brown, who served in the 377th Security Police Squadron, Sentry Dog Section.  I was wondering if anyone who knew him could share some stories and maybe some photos with me.   He never talked about stuff from back then, but I would like to hear some stories.

Thank you

Kendra Embry

Name:  J. Embry                  Mar 02, 2005
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Comments:  Enjoyed seeing your website.  My father-in-law, Jerry Wayne Brown, served in the 377th Security Police Squadron, as a sentry dog handler from 9/67-8/68.

He passed away March 12,2003, after a short struggle with cancer.  His dog was King A365.

If anyone out there remembers him or served with him, we would like to hear from anyone who has a memory of him.

God bless all veterans ...but especially all Vietnam veterans from all branches

Thank you

Name:  Brian G. Kolfage, Sr.                  Feb 25, 2005
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Comments:  Mr Penley and all 377th Security Police members.

Thanks for making your members aware of Brians injuries.  Brian is doing well and has started to walk a little with his prosthetic legs.  Brian has never complained of his misfortunes and remains positive and strong.

I would like to thank your members for their financial support to Brian Kolfages Fund.

Thanks

Brian G Kolfage Sr.
Brians Father

Name:  David M. Summerfield                  Feb 16, 2005
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Comments:  SMSgt David W Summerfield, USAF, Ret - In the 377th Security Police Squadron, from 4 Sep 1967 until Mar 1968 - NCOIC at Vung Tau Detachment, from late Sep 1967 until late Feb 1968.

Thanks for the web page

Name:  Albert M. Thaxton                  Feb 11, 2005
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Comments:  My Name is Albert M. Thaxton, I was the NCOIC , Security Police Investigations under Col Fox.   My tour there was from 1968-1969.  My rank then was SSgt.  Enjoyed visiting your site.

Good work.

Name:  Paul Harrington                  Feb 11, 2005
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Comments:  I'm Paul Harrington, I was an air force photog based out of Tan Son Nhut, in 1965, for a few months the 1966 and 1969 for a year tour working for 7th AF Combat News.

I remember, when it was 2nd Air Div.,.

I know I photographed you guys more then a few times.  My best story was Nemo and "Thorny", I think that was his nick name.

This is a great site and thank you for putting it together.

Paul Harrington
Air Force and Associated Press
RETIRED and not a moment to soon

Name:  James Miller                  Feb 10, 2005
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Comments:  Found your website thru the Tan Son Nhut Assocation website and decided to "rummage thru the attic of my mind".

I arrived at TSN, 1 Apr 1966 originally assigned to the 6250th AP Sq.  I guess you could call me a "charter member" of the 377th AP/SP Sq.  Rotated back to CONUS 1 Apr 1967.  Was there for the attack in Apr 66 and Dec 66.

Was assigned initially in Customs duties at the Airport (approx 3 months) and selected for special duty working the 50 foot tower near the 051 gate, call sign Alpha-15.

Very interesting looking at the photos of the last area I lived in on the base.  I initially lived in the "hootches" near the main gate (along with 75-90 "cops" in our hootch.)

I sent my photos of that area and other places on the base to Dr John Brokaw who is President of the SP Association and is doing a history of the Air Police/Security Police/Security Forces career field.

Also sent copies to the 377th SF Sq currently located at Kirtland AFB, NM for the museum they are putting together of the 377th, so others coming into the unit can see what their "ancestors" did.

Thanks for the visit down memory lane.

SMSGT James Miller, RET.
(I go by Skip)

Name:  Jack Bussa                  Feb 10, 2005
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Comments:  This is for the 377th Security Police Squadron.  Just a "sign-in" --- Sgt Jack Bussa, 377th SPS, 3/67---3/68.  USAF Ret 1989.

Thanks.

Name:  Benjamin Steven (Steve) Rivers                  Feb 10, 2005
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Comments:  Benjamin Steven (Steve) Rivers, Sgt (E-4), Mobile-51 and Tango-One, Jun 1967 thru Jun 1968.   Looking for old bunk mates, SSgt McMahon and Sgt Dong Garcia, who was from Hawaii.

Steve

Name:  Charles Penley                  Jan 31, 2005
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Comments:  Johnnie, I want to thank you for your email message that is below this one.  Like you, I was there on that night.  It definately was a tough and frightening experience to go through.  It took all of us, 377th Security Police Squadron, all of the Tan Son Nhut Augmentee's, U.S. Army, USAF pilots flying their jets, people like you who went to their weapons conex's and obtained weapons, Republic of Vietnam Army and civilian's working on base to help defend it.

Your friend,

Charles Penley

Name:  Johnnie Jernigan                  Jan 31, 2005
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Comments:  On this anniversary of the 1968 TET Offensive, I would like to take this opportunity to say, "THANKS" to the members of the 377th Security Police Squadron for saving my bacon.  As a young SGT stationed at TSN, I did not have a real appreciation of what was really happening that night and the rest of that week until much much later.  (We did not have the communications that we have now so the word was very slow in getting out to the troops.)  I have since read the after action reports and have had the opportunity to talk to many others who experienced that nightmare and have concluded that the “cops” saved not only me but TSN that night.

A BIG THANKS and Welcome Home!

Johnnie Jernigan

Name:  John Clemmer,                   Jan 29, 2005
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Comments:  I was a member of the 821st Combat Security Police Sqaudron (Safeside).

Spent a month and a half at Tan Son Nhut, in June / July 1968.  One post I had, was in the Communication Tower, was right next to the MACV building.  Up about 100 feet, just room for two of us.  Funny I have a real fear of heights now!!

The other post, was in a tower close to a graveyard.  Was at Bein Hoa before that, then went to Pleiku for 2 months.

Retired in 1984 and now live in Fort Walton Beach FL.

FROM THE WEB MASTER:  Today, I have a special request for anyone who comes to the 377th Security Police Squadron web pages.

An active duty United States Air Force, Security Forces man needs our assistance.   His name is, SrA Brian Kolfage, Jr.  While serving in Iraq on Sep 11, 2004, his base camp came under mortar attack and SrA Kolfage took a direct hit.  SrA Kolfage lost both of his legs and one of his arms, nearly costing him, his life.

SrA Kolfage is not asking for any assistance.  It is his friends, like you and me, who have taken up the banner and ask you for this assistance, for him.

I have a two page .pdf that explains his story and how to send assistance to him at Goodfellow AFB, TX.

If you can assist, I will email you the two page .pdf to you and let you make up your own mind.

Email me at: Email:  

Name:  Richard L. Hill,                   Jan 16, 2005
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Comments:  I just recently discovered your web site.  Very well done!  I served with the 377th SPS from Dec. 1968 to Dec. 1969.  I was assigned to Charlie Flight, Alpha Sector, for most of my tour.   Most of my time was spent on Alpha Bunker 10 and SARTS.

The 377th and Vietnam was a big part of my life and now 36 years later, I still think of those days almost daily.  I served with Tom Tessier and it brought memories when I saw him listed in the Tango Sector listing.  Do you have a newsletter?

Thanks for the memories.

Best Regards

Rickie

Name:  Charles Penley,                   Jan 05,  2005
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Comments:  Happy New Year to one and all !!!

FROM THE WEB MASTER:  Today is Jan 01, 2005.  I hope that everyone had their wishes granted from the year 2004.  However, I am personally wishing each and every one of you a better year in 2005.  So what do you want to talk about this year?  I would like to hear from all who come to this web page.  How can this web page help you better informed?